Awning winch



H. J, MAYER AWNING WINCH April 14, 1931.

Filed Oct. 7. 1929 M550/'rms Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY J'. MAYER, OF MANKATO, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T'O MAYER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MANKATO, MINNESOTA AWN ING WINCH Application filed October 7, 1929. Serial No. 397,977.

This invention relates to improvements in awning winches.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of an improved type of awning winch which can be used in connection with various styles of gearing and means to automatically lock the awning at any desired position and the device is so arranged that it can be quickly and readily engaged by a manually operable crank for actuating the gears to raise and lower the awning.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved device adapted to replace the cumbersome gears and operating mechanism in use at the present time for use in raising and lowering awnings, my improved device comprising simple and inexpensive means operated by a detachable crank handle which can be quickly and read ily engaged with the device for rolling the canvas on a supporting shaft to raise and lower the awning and at the same time includes means for securely locking the awning in various adjusted positions.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a very simple constructed winch forming operative connection between the awning and operating handle therefor whereby the awning may be quickly and readily raised and lowered in a very short time with minimum exertion on the part of the operator and including means whereby the awning is securely locked in any desired raised position.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an awning illustrating the application of my device;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the operating Winches with parts thereof broken away and illustrated in cross section;

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation illustrating the locking parts in unlocked position;

Figure 4 is a detailed transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the locking faces.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be noted in Figure 1 that I have illustrated the application of my invention wherein 1 indicates the usual type of awning supported at its uppermost point upon a transverse shaft 2, the ends of which are rotatably mounted in brackets 8. The awning for the most part is wound upon the shaft Q when in raised position and when lowered is spread or positioned so `that its lower end is substantially horizontal by means of a movable rod 4, the inner end of which is pivoted to a bracket 5 below bracket 3 and the outer end is connected to the usual cross partof the front of the awning.

One of the brackets 3 is formed with a cylindrical housing 6 with projecting part 7. The projecting part 7 houses the gear or pinion 8 on the'transverse shaft 2 and this gear or pinion meshes with a worm gear 9 on a vertical stub shaft 10 which is rotatably mounted within the housing 6.

The upper end of the shaft 10 is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted in a bearing 11 at the upper end of the housing 6. The lower end of shaft 10 is rotatably mounted in a stationary locking disc 12 supported horizontally of the housing 6 and is adapted to provide a support for the worm gear 9.

The lower end of the shaft 10 is rectangular in form as shown at 13 and slidably mounted thereon is a sleeve 14, the inner bore of which corresponds to the shape of the lower end of the shaft 10 so that when the sleeve 14 is rotated similar movement will be imparted to shaft 10 and worm gear 9.

The lower face of the locking disc 12 is provided with a ratchet face and the upper end of the sleeve 14 is also formed with a ratchet face 14', these faces cooperating to normally lock the sleeve 14 against rotative movement.

In forming the ratchet face 14 per end of the sleeve 14, it will leave an annular shoulder 15 and arranged upon the sleeve 14 and positioned between the shoulder 15 and the lower end of the housing is a coil spring 16 which has a tendency to normally maintain the ratchet face in locking position as shown in Figure 2.

The sleeve 14 projects through the lower end of the housing 6 and is provided with a hook 17. This hook 17 is adapted to be enon the upgaged bythe upper looped end of a crank rod 18 which is provided with a crank handle 19 adapted to be grasped bythe operator and with a kdownwardly exerted pull that disengages the clutch face .and then by rotating the crank rod 18 movement will be imparted to the sleevell and through its connection to the shaft 10 will simultaneously impart movement to worm gear 9 and pinion 8 for rotating shaft 2.

It will be apparent I have provided a very simple and inexpensive device in the shape of an awning winch for use in raising and lowering lthe awning and securely locking awning in any desired position. In operating the device,.it is only necessaryY to engage the crank rod 18 with the hook 17, then by pulling downwardly von the crank handle 19the clutch face on sleeve 14 and'disc 12 will be disengaged, as shown at Figure 3,v placing the spring 16 under tension. By then rotating the crank rod 1.8 rotative vmovement will be imparted to shaft 10 rotating worm gear 9 and simultaneously rotating shaft 2.

In rotating the shaft 10, it will be noted 'that it can be rotated in either direction, the

direction being governed by the position required of theawning.Y

If it is desired to raise the awning, the sha-ft 10 will be rotated in one direction, but

Vif it is found desirable to lower the awning, the shaft 1() can be rotated in the opposite direction. Immediately upon raising or lowering the awning to the desired position, the hook 17 can be released whereby the tension of the spring 16l will return the ratchetV face 14: into engagement with the ratchet face on disc 12, thus preventing retrograde movement on the part ofy shaft 10. Y

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the operative parts of my device are securely housed within suitable. casings and the device comprises very few parts and can be quickly :and easily'operated forraisingv and from the 'foregoing that i a worm gear on the second shaft meshing with the pinion, a stationary ratchet member in the housing embracing the second shaft, a rectangular portion on one end of the second shaft, a movable ratchet member mounted on the rectangular end of the second shaft and adapted to engage the first ratchet face, yieldable means for retaining said ratchet face in locked position and means whereby to disengage said ratchet face to permit'rotation of the second shaft for imparting movement to the first shaft.

2. In combination with an awning supporting shaft disposed in a horizontal plane and a pinion on said shaft, a supporting housing at right angles to the shaft, a stub shaft rotatably mounted within the housing and disposed at right angles to they first shaft, a wormv carried. by the stub shaft and meshing with the pinion, a stationary ratchet member carried by the housing and embracing the stub shaft at one end of the worm, said stubfshaft having a rectangularlower end, a sleeveh'aving a rectangular. bore to receive the rectangular end of the stub shaft, a ratchet face carried by the sleeve and ycooperating with the stationary ratchet member, a coil spring embracing the sleeve and disposed between the ratchet face thereon and the lower wall of the housing for nor' mally maintaining said ratchet faces in locked position, and a hook member at the lower end of the sleeve adapted to be engaged by an implement for pulling downwardly on the sleeve against the tension of the spring to disengage said ratchet faces whereby to permit rotation Yof the stub shaft to impart a simultaneous movement to the awning supporting shaft. n f Y In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 1 have hereunto set my hand at Mankato, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota.

HENRY J. MAYER.

lowering an awning and securely retaining i the awningV in various adjusted positions, but at the same time can be readily operated for imparting movement to the awning` when desired.

Another important feature of my device is the fact that the operating hook 17 is located aconsiderable distancer .above the street level so that the awning cannot be operated by mischievous personsvwho might under ordinary circumstances grasp the operating crank and impart movement to the awning. In the present instance, however, itis not possible to operate the awning without the use of the crank rod 18.

I claim:

1. A device of theV class described including a shaft', a pinion thereon, a housing having an extension adapted r to,V embrace the pinion, a second shaft through the housing, 

